Combination massage-roller and exerciser.



N0. 68|,33L Patented Aug. 27, |90l. G. W. MILKMAN.

COMBINATION MASSAGE ROLLER AND EXEROISER.

(Application led May 2, 1900.)

(No Model.)

ilNrTnn STATES PATENT Ormea.

GEORGE W. MILKMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES E. KILBOURNE,`OF FAIRHAVEN, VERMONT.

COMBINATION MASSAGE- ROLLER AND EXERCISER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iiatent o. 681,331, dated August 27, 1901.

Application filed May 2, 1900.

To ctZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. MILKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Massage-Rollers and Exercisers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of massage-rollers and exercisers which embody a series of revoluble balls relatively mounted in an elastic or fixed relation ship and adapted to travel under pressure over and against the surface of various parts of the body.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved 'device of this character which will combine in one apparatus members which are adapted for different purposes or uses and which perform different functions or offices in different positions or arrangements or under various circumstances,where by the device will be adapted for various uses, either as a massage-roller or an exerciser.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which will possess advantages in point of inexpensiveness, convenience, simplicity, adaptability,

ease of operation, effectiveness, and general efficiency.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of the improved-massage-roller and exerciser device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the handle member detached and illustrating its use as an independent massage device. Fig. 4. is a detail sectional view taken on the line @c 0c, Fig. l.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same numerals of reference.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the body portion of a massage-roller device of the class to which my invention and improvements relate or are especially adaptable. This body portion usually comprises a series of balls or rollers 2, revolubly mounted in pairs or plurally upon a cross rod or wire 3, said sets of balls and their carrying-rod being arranged in a parallel or successive manner throughout the longitudinal extent of the device and the rods or wires 3 being carried by longitudinal side members 4;, which Serial No. 15,220. (No model.)

are either flexible or elastic. The sidey members are usually converged at their ends, as at 5, and are arranged to carry handle members 6.

In carrying out my invention and improvements I preferably form the longitudinal side members 4. of a series of separate coiled springs 7, which are respectively extended between each pair of transverse ball-carrying Wires or rods 3 and are detachably connected at their respective ends with said members 3, as represented at 8, this detachable connection being preferably formed by means of a hook connection. I accomplish by means of the improved construction and arrangement as just stated not only a longitudinal elastic or spring movement, whereby the device may be used as a pulling exerciser, if desired, but inasmuch as the longitudinal body portion l is made up of separable sections said sections may be readily and conveniently detached or connected for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the length of the body portion of the apparatus, as desired. In lieu of the springs 7 I may of course manifestly employ ordinary elastic cables or other adapted elastic members, or said members 7 of the longitudinal side members 4 may be non-elastic, if desired. The convergent end portionsl 5 for the connection of the handle members may be either flexible or elastic or formed of Wire rods; but I prefer to employ elastic cords, as represented in the drawings, and I preferably provide intermediately between the handle connection and the said end portions 5 a coiled spring, as at 9.

The improved handle members 6, as herein illustrated and described,.are a leading feature of my invention and improvements.v Said improved handle members embody aV cross-piece 10, preferably shaped as a handle or adapted in its contour to be grasped in the hand, and said cross-piece 10 carries a projecting body portion 1l, preferably formed of wire and comprising outwardly-projecting side arms or members 12,carrying or connected with or integral with a cross-rod 13. Upon the cross rod or wire 13, between the side arms l2, I mount revolubly a series of balls or rollers 14.. Any suitable number of balls 14 may be employed, but I have herein IOO ing devices and also independently used in a variety of manners as a distinct massage device. The balls 14, in connection With the outer rod 13, and the cross-piece 10 both constitute in one device handles or handhelds which are adapted to be alternately or reversibly emplyoed in accordance with the specific uses of the device 6.

When the device 6 is employed as a hany dle upon the form of the body member 1,

as herein illustrated, of a massage-roller del vice or when it is employed as a handle in connection with any other form of pulling exerciser or massage device, the cross-piece l0 forms a detachable means of connection, and Q the rollers 14, connected with the cross-rod 13, Q are grasped in the hand and constitute the I When thus i used, the handle proper consists, as Will be noted, of a series of revoluble balls or rollers, and this is an important and advantageous feature of my invention, inasmuch as when the hand grasps said balls in the operation of the device they impart a muscle move- When the de- 1 Q predetermined xed relative arrangement an vice detached from other mechanism 0r ap-` paratus, the cross-piece lO forms the handle or handhold proper and is grasped in thek hand, and the device under these circumstances is adapted to be effectively and conj handle or handhold proper.

ment to the hand and fingers. vice 6 is used as an independent massage dev'eniently employed in a masssage operation upon the face, neck, arms, abdomen, head, fr hand, or other parts of the human body, the

rollers 14, carried upon the outer cross-bar 13,

being used as the contact-surface under pressure. The adaptability of the device 6 to the independent uses just stated is indicated in Fig. 3.

It will be understood that the balls or rollers, as at 2 and 14, may be of any suitable size or contour and employed in any desired number, and they may be constructed of Wood, glass, metal, or any other suitable material. A further manifest modification of my invention consists in the revoluble mounting of the balls upon cords or elastic cables or other adapted media instead of upon rods or Wire, as herein shown. It Will be further noted that the detachable connection of the handle members 6 and their structural adaptability for independent use, in combination with the body-structure 1 in the composite device herein illustrated, produces viresisi tually three independent massage devices in one, thus effecting economy and enabling a Wide range of utility and adaptability.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains and by reference to the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings forming a part thereof.

The composite device in its entirety, as

herein illustrated, is adapted for a thoroughly flexible movement in its various constituent parts, and the device 6 constitutes in its plurality of functions and alternate uses an entirely separate massage means which can be effectively employed upon all parts of the body by a simple hand rubbing or pressure movement in lieu of the ordinary hand-massave. y do not desire to be understood as restricting myself to the specific features or details of construction and arrangement as herein shown and described, as manifest variations and modifications may be made inthe structure and relative arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations or modifications as properly come Within the spirit of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. As an improvement in massage or exercising devices of the class set forth, a handle member comprising an inner cross-piece forming a handhold and carrying positively in outwardly-projecting frame embodying an `outer cross-piece upon which are mounted rollers,- said outer cross member and its rollers constituting an outer handle or handhold, and said inner cross-piece or handhold being provided with means for attachment or connection with the body of a massage or exercising device.

2. As an improvement in massage or exercising devices of the class set forth, ahandle member, comprising an inner cross-piece constituting a handhold and provided with means of attachment Vto or connection With the body of a `massage or exercising device,

a substantially rigid frame projecting from said inner attachment cross-piece and embodying side members and an outer cross member, and rollers revolubly mounted upon said outer Vcross member between said side members, for the purpose set forth.

Y 3. The herein-described massage or exercising device, comprising a main or body portion consisting of side members carrying a longitudinally-arranged series of transversely-mounted rollers, and a detachable handle embodying a cross-piece adapted to serve as ahandhold and provided with means for attachment or connection with said body IOO IIO

IZO

the connected ends of said elastic side members at the end of the main or body portion, and provided With a substantially rigid frame projecting from said cross-piece and carrying rollers adapted to serve as an individual handhold, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing Wit-I nesses.

GEORGE W. MILKMANa Witnesses:

J. R. LITTELL, SPENCER A. RINCE. 

